The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-08


by his presence at such time and place.
Awaiting your favorable response, we have the
honor to be, sir, yours respectfully,
DAVID r. FRANCIS,
Mayor of the city of st. Louis.
FRANK GAIENHIE,
President Of the Merchants Exchange.
JOHN w. NOBLE,
Commander Frank p Blair Post No. /, G. A. R.
CLEvELAND's REPLY
WASHINGTON, July 4, 1887.
David e. Francis, Mayor Of the city Of st.
Louis, Frank Gdienne, President of the Mer-
chants Exchange, and John w. Noble, COM
n,0nder Frank p Blair Post No. 1, &. 4. r.:
GENTLEMEN-WhileI have hitherto made no
formal response TO your invitation given in Feb
ruary last to myself and Mrs Cleveland to at
tend the national cncampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic TO be held in st. Louis
from the eth to the 30th of September next
have verbally indicated my purpose to accept it
if l should iind it possible then to be absent from
Washington. The statement contained in your let
ter that the organization was neveri in SO flourish
ing condition es now, nor its membership so
large, that no effort is being spared by the ctl-
zens of st. Louis to insure welcome OF un-
usual warmth at this, the first encampment of
that body ever held in a Southern state, and
your suggestion that no compliment more
fitting could be bestowed upon the valiant
defenders of common country by the
chief Executive of the restored Union, and none
would be more highly appreciated than that
conferred by his presence at such time and
place. enlisted my feeling and interest. More
however correctly you expressed the prevailing
sentiment in the Grand Army, there are mem
bers and some posts of that body entertaining
different feelings in respect to my
attendance, and that my, acceptance of
your invitation would lead to
discord in the organization as well as an inter
ruption of cordality at the coming encamp-
ment. Without entering into discussion of these
opinions and unmoved by any feeling, although
| deeply regret the condition, | can but regard
it my duty to refrain from contributing by my
action to so undesirable result.
Nothing can be of greater Importance in
connection with the encampment than free and
unrestrained manifestation by its participants
of that patriotic fraternity of feeling suggested
by the selection OF the place of holding it, and
which is at once proof of the complete success
of their arms aud the highest glory of our vete-
ran soldiers. | am constrained, therefore,
to withhold my pupOSed acceptance
of your invitation. In doing so
sincere wish that in the agreeable entertainment
prepared for them by the hOsptable people of
St Louis the veterans of the Grand Army may
enjoy the most pleasant, profitable and useful
reunion in their history. Very truly yours,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
NOT GOING WEST AT ALL.
1t is practically settled that the President
will not visit the West at all during the pres
ent year The abandonment OF his pro-
posed trip to st. Louis has resulted in
wholly changing whatever plans he had
made for visiting Western cities. 1t was
stated at the White House this afternoon
that the only plans the President has made
for leaving Washington during the summer
and autumn are those for his visit to Clin-
toh, n. Y, on July IL, which will probably
not consume more than a weeks time, and
for his visit to Atlanta in October next on
the occasion of the Piedmont Exposition.